New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-09
LOST IN A RAGING SEA.
TWENTY MEN PERISH IN A sHIPWRECK ON
THE VIRGINIA COAST.
FIVE LIFE-sAvERs DROWN IN AN HEROIC ATTEMPT
To RESCUE THE PEOPLE OF THE
STRANDED VESSEL

To RESCUE THE PEOPLE OF THE
STRANDED VESSEL.
NORFOLK, Va Jan. S.-Onc of the most disastrous
shipwrecks which ever occurred on the Virginia
coast happened at o'clock this morning near
the Little Island life-saving station, fourteen
miles south Of Cape Henry. Not less than twenty.
and probably more, lives were lost, among them
five llie-savihy men who In the discharge of thelr
duty were drowned. The morning was bitterly
cold and a binding snow storm prevailed with
the wind blowing gale from the northeast.
In lull in the storm the lifesaving patrol from
Little Island life saving station sighted a largo
ship stranded on the bar about 800 yards from
the shore. When he saw the vessel he was going to
meet the patrol from DamNeck station ande Exchange
checks showing that both patrolmen had been to
the enl of their beats. The Dam Neck patrol
was only few yards distant when the vessel
was sighted and both fired rockets to inform tho
crew of the stranded ship that she had been
seen They hurried back to their respective
stations and gave the alarm.
In little while both crews with lifeboats and
apparatus were abreast of the wreck and tho
boom of q mortar announced that line had been
shot out to the illfated vessel The shot was un-
successful and second fired with like result.
After firing six unsuccessful shots the life esaving
men determined to brave the furious sea and tho
death which seemed certain to await their
ture. The word of comamnd being given by Cap
tain Belanza, of Life-Sayng Station No 4, known
as Little Island six of the most expert boatmen
manned each boat. At his order the men gavo
way with a will and in moment both boats
were breasting the furious waves They reached
the ship in safety and five Of the ships crew
were taken in life-boat and ten in ships
boat which was launched for the purpose Tho
boats were headed for shore. Not word was
spoken for each man realized the awful peril
which surrounded him
With steady pull the two boats were making
good headway for shore when a wave of greas
power struck both, capsizing them instantly and
pitching their twenty-five occupants into the boil
ing sea. Then began desperate struggle FOE
life, and with many Of the men it was a pro-
longed one. The Mortified lifesavers on the beach
were powerlcsS to assist their drowning comrades
or the unfortunate strangers. The drowning men
were carried southwark by the seas and some OF
them were washed ashore. AS they came within
reach they were picked up, and endcavors were
made to revive them. and in two instances with
success, although one of the two is badly inlureda
The vessel is the German ship Elizabeth, Cap
tain Ialbeistadt from Hamburg to Baltimore, and
not one Of her crew survives her wreck. Her
cargo is unknown, as the high seas have thus
faf prevented any dllcllpo W Ic"ch Hci' ~ IL
thought she is leaking badly, and at sunset her
masts were thought TO be giving way. VI the
life saving crew the following were lost:
ABEL BELANZA captain of No. 4, known as Lit
tie Island.
J. W. LAND, same station.
GEORGE. w. STONE. same station.
IA BELANzA OfDam Neck station, aud brother
of Abel.
JOSEPH SpRATLEY, of Dam Neck
John Etheridge and Frank Tetford, OF No. sta
tion, were washed ashore and resuscitatcd but
Etheridgc Is so badly injured that it is thought
he cannot survive.